Two plead guilty in Extortion and Trading in Influence case

16 December 2014

Yesterday, a trial panel of two international judges and one local judge accepted pleas of guilty to all charges from the defendants, B.V and S.M before the Basic Court of Ferizaj/Uroševac (sitting in Kacaniku/Kacanik).

The defendant, B.V was charged with two counts of Trading in Influence, one count of Extortion and one count of Unauthorised Possession of Weapons. The defendant, S.M was charged with two counts of Trading in Influence and one count of Extortion.

The main trial commenced against six defendants on 19th May 2014. The defendants, B.V and S.M will be sentenced at the end of the trial of the remaining four defendants. A seventh defendant absconded before the indictment was filed and orders have been issued for his arrest. Two of the defendants still on trial were members of Kosovo Police at the time of the alleged offences. One held the rank of Lieutenant.

The case is prosecuted by an international prosecutor from the Special Prosecution Office of Kosovo.